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The premise is that Americans have one view of slavery the 19th century antebellum cotton plantation picture so Berlin attempts to broaden our horizons in terms of what slavery was really like, which is great if you have absolutely zero knowledge or the history Dec 10, Eromsted rated it really liked it. Probably the best single volume survey of the history of slavery and the living conditions of enslaved Africans in the boundaries of the continental United States.
Berlin is a longtime expert and researcher in the field and clearly has a strong grasp of the ever-expanding secondary literature. The book is divided into five chapters emphasizing the changing condition of slavery over time. He begins with the introduction of slavery and slaves in the early colonies and their ties to the wider Atlan Probably the best single volume survey of the history of slavery and the living conditions of enslaved Africans in the boundaries of the continental United States.
Paperback , pages. They had access to the law and, in some geographic regions, nearly one-fifth secured freedom. The four main chapters each investigate a "generation" of persons of color. Jul 22, Goldfrancine rated it it was amazing. To purchase short term access, please sign in to your Oxford Academic account above. Despite the destruction of the life their ancestors had known, Berlin argues, African slaves "contested the new regime at every turn," challenging the planters and forcing negotiations over the nature of work and rights
He begins with the introduction of slavery and slaves in the early colonies and their ties to the wider Atlantic community. Chapter Two charts the changing conditions of slavery with the coming of the tobacco and rice plantations.
Chapter Three covers the effects of the Revolutionary Era including the slow process of gradual emancipation in the North. Chapter five examines the rise of the "Cotton Kingdom" and with it the internal slave trade. And finally he ends with the coming of freedom in the Civil War. Berlin is excellent in focusing on the ways in which slave resistance, both active and passive, shaped the institution and eventually helped to spur on its demise. The book has the typical problems associated with surveys, in this case exacerbated by its relative brevity It covers a longer period in fewer pages than his prior much-acclaimed survey "Many Thousands Gone".
Many important issue are given only passing attention and it is hard to know whether a new student of slavery could take in so many concepts without a bit more illustration. One omission of note is slavery in the Caribbean.
Although outside the boundaries of the United States, the Caribbean islands were an integral in fact, leading part of the development of the slave system in the British Empire. I also worry that Berlin follows the current trends in the literature in spending much of his time on slavery and slaves who fell outside the traditional plantation model.
It is important to recognize that slavery was not a monolithic institution, but I think new students would profit from a greater emphasis on the conditions under which most slaves lived most of the time. I would be interested to here the impressions of students who read this book for undergrad survey courses.
Jun 13, Ed rated it really liked it. Berlin argues against the image of slavery as a static institution by describing both its evolution over time and its variations from region to region. His thesis--that slaves were never passive victims, but always resisted to the extent that they could, makes this a particularly engrossing book. Covering such a vast territory he at times resorts to generalizations that left me wondering how he knows this or that.
On the other hand he does provide numerous examples that give the text a poignancy Berlin argues against the image of slavery as a static institution by describing both its evolution over time and its variations from region to region. On the other hand he does provide numerous examples that give the text a poignancy and stimulated me to want to read more. As I read I began to answer a question that has concerned me for a long time: It seemed clear that all the passions that surround ownership and wealth could obliterate and feelings about this possession as a person.
Aug 22, Katie rated it liked it Shelves: This is really great and something I'll definitely borrow some lines from when I'm teaching, but there are some issues with his framework that make this book a little difficult -- the way he breaks up sections of history in order to better understand the evolution of slavery is a bit muddled, and he ignores other case studies that would have been helpful to include -- but I guess this piece was meant to stand on the legs of prior research from another book.
Maybe it just needs to be part of a bi This is really great and something I'll definitely borrow some lines from when I'm teaching, but there are some issues with his framework that make this book a little difficult -- the way he breaks up sections of history in order to better understand the evolution of slavery is a bit muddled, and he ignores other case studies that would have been helpful to include -- but I guess this piece was meant to stand on the legs of prior research from another book.
Maybe it just needs to be part of a bigger whole. Feb 25, Marie rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is a an excellent book that examines the history of slaves' roles in the United States, and our development from a society with slaves to a slave society.
He overshadows his work with discussions of race and socioeconomics in the early United States which has helped me reshape my understanding of race theory. IF you wish to gain a deeper understanding of the origin of racial divisions, this is a must read. Nov 05, Sarah Fournier rated it really liked it.
I didn't read the entire book, I was using it for research and read the chapters on the Charter Generation and Plantation Generation.
The book is written well, I like how the author broke down the history of slavery into 5 generations. And within each chapter the author focuses on specific regions such as the Chespeake or Mississippi Valley which made it easier for me researching specific regions.
Mar 14, Carol rated it really liked it. Excellent overview of the nature of the enslaved experience in North America for the first years. Details how the experiences changed through generations depending on place, the economics and constant negotiation for power and control of the lives of the enslaved. Insights into how the enslaved battled to retaind their humanity, family units and control against the odds. Aug 12, Sean Chick rated it really liked it. Good book for illustrating the changes in American slavery, but it also tends to ramble and Berlin fails to make a strong case for slaves have any power in this relationship.
I'm sure they obstructed their work but in the end the masters got rich and the slaves got the lash. Outside of this, it is a good introduction. Dec 31, Jim Bouchard rated it it was amazing. You cannot fully understand the conditions that caused the development of African slavery in America until you read this book!
Incredible depth and insight from perspectives you may never have known existed. Feb 15, J. Berlin shows that slavery had a variety of forms in North America and was not a static experience for those who enforced it or those who suffered under it. It is an illuminating and engrossing study and well worth the time. Sep 11, Chris rated it liked it. Simplifies things, but works for undergrads I think, as long as it's in conjunction with other material. Nov 18, Anna rated it really liked it. He tends to repeat himself throughout each chapter, but I found it to be an interesting take on the development of slavery.
Dec 21, Laurie rated it it was amazing. Absolutely the most incredible book ever on the topic. African American before and after the Civil War. I learned so very much. Jul 22, Goldfrancine rated it it was amazing. This book takes a deeper look at how commodity economics shaped North American slavery. It also distinguishes the differences between slave societies as well as societies with slaves.
Ira Berlin traces the history of African-American slavery in the United States from its beginnings in the seventeenth century to its fiery demise nearly three. Ira Berlin traces the history of African-American slavery in the United States from its beginnings in the seventeenth century to its fiery demise nearly three hundred years later. Slavery was thus made and remade by successive generations of Africans and African Americans who.
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